Weber joins Mara ahead of showdown with Calgary Flames
Canadiens head coach Jacques Martin faces a new challenge Tuesday night as he tries to fit a new body into his defence by committee.
With Andrei Markov and Ryan O?Byrne out with injuries, Yannick Weber, 21, will make his season debut Tuesday night against the Calgary Flames .
The key for Martin is to maximize the strengths of his six defencemen while trying to hide their flaws and, while he was reluctant to tip his hand Monday, that?s why Weber will line up alongside veteran Paul Mara Tuesday night.
Mara will provide some stability for the youngster, but he?ll also benefit from the move. Mara has been playing out of position on the right side with Hal Gill, but the addition of Weber, a right-handed shot, will allow him to play his natural position.
Gill will play with Josh Gorges and the No. 1 pairing of Roman Hamrlik and Jaroslav Spacek remains intact. Gorges has been playing on the left side alongside O?Byrne, but he?ll move to the right because he?s more mobile than Gill.
Weber, who made his NHL debut last January and played well in last year?s playoffs, said he was surprised to be called up so early in the season.
?In camp, we knew there were seven defencemen (with NHL contracts) and I?d have to wait for my chance,? Weber said. ?It?s too bad we lost a defenceman like Markov, but it?s another chance to prove myself and stay up here.?
Weber has no illusions about his role.
?I don?t think that I?ll be replacing Markov,? said the 21-year-old Weber. ?I don?t think any young player can do that. There?s a reason why I?m up here and I?m just going to play my game and do my best.
?I like to make good first passes, I like to join the rush, bring some offence and support the forwards. It?s kind of like Markov but not as good.?
Weber won?t be the only player making his season debut Tuesday. Kyle Chipchura will replace Glen Metropolit as the centre on the fourth line between Georges Laraque and Gregory Stewart. Metropolit didn?t practice Monday because of bruised ribs, but Martin described his status as ?day-to-day.?
Chipchura, who has been cleared for action after off-season shoulder surgery, has started each of the past two seasons with the Canadiens, but the former first-round draft choice has finished each of those seasons in the minors.
?I have to just relax and play, not worry about being nervous on the ice,? Chipchura said. ?I like to think of myself as a smart player and a lot of game is anticipation. In the past, I worried about little things, got a little too tentative and not involved in the play.?
If the first two games this season are any indication, the Canadiens goaltender will be involved, and it may not be Carey Price, who has been the key to the Canadiens? first two wins.
With the team facing back-to-back games for the first time this season ? the Canadiens are in Vancouver Wednesday night ? Martin may elect to split the workload. If that?s the case, look for Jaroslav Halak to start Tuesday night with Price getting a chance to show off for any of his family or friends who make the 10-hour trek from his hometown of Anahim Lake, B.C.
Canadiens head coach Jacques Martin faces a new challenge Tuesday night as he tries to fit a new body into his defence by committee.
With Andrei Markov and Ryan O?Byrne out with injuries, Yannick Weber, 21, will make his season debut Tuesday night against the Calgary Flames .
The key for Martin is to maximize the strengths of his six defencemen while trying to hide their flaws and, while he was reluctant to tip his hand Monday, that?s why Weber will line up alongside veteran Paul Mara Tuesday night.
Mara will provide some stability for the youngster, but he?ll also benefit from the move. Mara has been playing out of position on the right side with Hal Gill, but the addition of Weber, a right-handed shot, will allow him to play his natural position.
Gill will play with Josh Gorges and the No. 1 pairing of Roman Hamrlik and Jaroslav Spacek remains intact. Gorges has been playing on the left side alongside O?Byrne, but he?ll move to the right because he?s more mobile than Gill.
Weber, who made his NHL debut last January and played well in last year?s playoffs, said he was surprised to be called up so early in the season.
?In camp, we knew there were seven defencemen (with NHL contracts) and I?d have to wait for my chance,? Weber said. ?It?s too bad we lost a defenceman like Markov, but it?s another chance to prove myself and stay up here.?
Weber has no illusions about his role.
?I don?t think that I?ll be replacing Markov,? said the 21-year-old Weber. ?I don?t think any young player can do that. There?s a reason why I?m up here and I?m just going to play my game and do my best.
?I like to make good first passes, I like to join the rush, bring some offence and support the forwards. It?s kind of like Markov but not as good.?
Weber won?t be the only player making his season debut Tuesday. Kyle Chipchura will replace Glen Metropolit as the centre on the fourth line between Georges Laraque and Gregory Stewart. Metropolit didn?t practice Monday because of bruised ribs, but Martin described his status as ?day-to-day.?
Chipchura, who has been cleared for action after off-season shoulder surgery, has started each of the past two seasons with the Canadiens, but the former first-round draft choice has finished each of those seasons in the minors.
?I have to just relax and play, not worry about being nervous on the ice,? Chipchura said. ?I like to think of myself as a smart player and a lot of game is anticipation. In the past, I worried about little things, got a little too tentative and not involved in the play.?
If the first two games this season are any indication, the Canadiens goaltender will be involved, and it may not be Carey Price, who has been the key to the Canadiens? first two wins.
With the team facing back-to-back games for the first time this season ? the Canadiens are in Vancouver Wednesday night ? Martin may elect to split the workload. If that?s the case, look for Jaroslav Halak to start Tuesday night with Price getting a chance to show off for any of his family or friends who make the 10-hour trek from his hometown of Anahim Lake, B.C.
